I am hunting since quite a while for some new balanced IEM in the price range from $100-250.

I will use them with my mobile phone (Galaxy Nexus i9250), Laptop and eventually with a dedicated headphone driver (currently, I am eyeballing the CEntrance DACport Headphone amp)

My criteria beside the price tag are:

- Well behaved frequency response with a flat, slightly pronounced, lower frequency region (#5 the HF5 below is not great in this respect!)- The impedance should not go to low (20 Ohm) (#2 UE600 has essentially a excellent flat line but at 13 OHM not very driver friendly IMHO)- Impedance not vary to much across the band (#4 Shure SE 315 is pretty bad 25-160 OHM)- A flat step response without crazy over or under shoots- Harmonic distortions seem to be rather awful for all of them (don't know how critical this is tough...)- Well defined stage with good mids (vocals) and highs- Little cable noise- Good sealing/fit (... many different ear pads)- A little case to protect them- Have I missed something important?

I've had a pair of Etymotic ER-4 for a few years; they are about twice the price of the HF5 (which I have not heard). I like them, but if you really want bass, then look elsewhere. Also, the cable noise is annoying. Not much of an issue to me, who use them in office.